Killjoy authorities have been accused of sabotaging plans for Platinum Jubilee street parties by issuing ‘unauthorized’ bunting notices and refusing to waive public boozing bans.
While Britons were busy erecting Union Jack banners in anticipation of the historic Royal event this week, council trolls were busy erecting red tape.
Local officials in certain places are advising homeowners not to hang Jubilee bunting from telephone poles, claiming that it could pose a hazard.
In some regions, city officials have been accused of spoiling the party by refusing to lift rules prohibiting drinking in public places, while fire chiefs are advising revelers to stay on the sides of the roadways rather than in the middle.
But in what is perhaps the most egregious example of ‘health and safety gone mad’ ahead of the Jubilee, local authority leaders have told residents not to attach flags to metal lamp posts because they fear they could snap.
It comes as ministers have today urged local authorities to be ‘flexible’ about late applications for Platinum Jubilee street parties.
Culture minister Chris Philp appealed for town halls to ‘accommodate people’ amid fears millions could see their celebrations thwarted.
An estimated 16,000 events celebrating the Queen’s 70th year on the throne have been given the green light with up to 15million people are expected to attend celebrations across the four-day bank holiday weekend.
The Local Government Association (LGA) – which represents local authorities – said councils were ‘pulling out all the stops to help their communities celebrate a historic day for our country’ and urged Britons to get their street party applications in ‘as soon as possible’.
Portsmouth City Council are among the authorities risking the wrath of Jubilee Party planners by banning bunting on lampposts.
Last week the jobsworth officials wrote to those organising street parties warning that hanging the lightweight string of flags on lampposts could be a ‘safety hazard’.
One resident, Albie Somerset, who is planning a street party in the southern port city, branded the warning ‘ludicrous’.
She told the Daily Star: ‘We filled out all the forms and jumped through all the hoops to get the road closure.
‘Now we’ve got a letter saying not to put bunting on telegraph poles. Are they not stable enough to hold some lightweight flags?’
The authority said in its letter that ‘no bunting is to be strung from telegraph poles’ during the Jubilee celebrations. It also said bunting must be at least 18ft (5.5metres) from the ground and of an ‘easily breakable nature’.
Similarly, in Bournemouth, bunting on lampposts is also banned for ‘safety reasons’. Meanwhile, West Berkshire Council has gone one step further, by saying even its metal lamp posts are off limits.
The authority – based in the Berkshire, the home of Windsor Castle – says flags, signs, banners and bunting must not be displayed from lampposts as they could be broken by the weight of a person on a stepladder resting against them to tie on items.
Jobsworth council staff have told the area’s 150,000 residents that authority bigwigs fear being sued if a person attaching decorations topples a post and causes an accident.
A local resident said: ‘It’s health and safety gone mad. And – despite the road being closed for our Jubilee celebration – we’ve even been told we’re not allowed to tie bunting across the road.’
West Berkshire Council issued street party guidelines to organisers which state: ‘No street party is allowed to attach any decorations to street lighting. Signs, banners and bunting must not be attached to lampposts.
‘This is as has been stated in our Jubilee pack on how to hold a street party from the start.’
The authority specifically urged people not to try and attach bunting to its metal street lights, saying they could snap if residents lean ladders against them.
A spokesperson said: ‘Our aluminium lighting columns are not designed to have the weight of a ladder and a human propped against them. We have no control over the type, size and material of decorations, nor method of erection.
‘We’ve waived the need for indemnity insurance, so any liability for a bunting-related incident, including its erection and taking down, would fall on the council.’
Meanwhile, Rochford District Council in Essex took its own firm stance, warning that recklessly arranged bunting could stop residents having their bins collected.
A spokesman told the Telegraph: ‘Putting up bunting across some roads and attached to electric poles has the potential to cause damage to our dustcarts as well as other large vehicles, as it could get wrapped around parts of the vehicle and cause damage to the light poles and/or vehicles.’
While residents in Rochdale face a bunting ban, those in Glasgow face a street booze ban. The city’s authority said it was not lifting its usual ban on alcohol consumption in the streets.
The current city byelaw states: ‘Any person who consumes alcoholic liquor in a designated place or is found to be in possession of an open container containing alcohol in a designated place shall be guilty of an offence.’
Under the bylaw, anyone caught drinking in the street by the police faces a fixed penalty of £60. And the authority says it is unlikely to lift the rule.
A Glasgow City Council spokesman told The Daily Record: ‘My understanding is that there has been no relaxation of the current by-laws in relation to outdoor drinking in public places.’
According to the paper, the authority is reportedly concerned following public disorder after 4,000 attended an unofficial party during the 2011 wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Police and revellers clashed at the event, with a dozen police officer injured and 22 people being arrested.
Meanwhile, fire chiefs have advised revellers not to hold impromptu parties in the middle of the street. In advice issued by Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, and echoed by other fire departments, they said: ‘We suggest that you set up tables along one side of the road and not the middle.’
It comes as ministers today urged local authorities to be ‘flexible’ about late applications for Platinum Jubilee street parties.
Culture minister Chris Philp appealed for town halls to ‘accommodate people’ amid fears millions could see their celebrations thwarted.
In a round of interviews this morning, Mr Philp said: ‘I think it is fantastic we are celebrating the Queen’s Jubilee, and I would just say to local councils around the country, including mine in Croydon, if you do get a late application, and maybe the deadline has technically passed, I would just say to the councils to show a little bit of flexibility, show a little bit of willingness to accommodate people.
‘And if you are at all able to, you know, please do grant these requests, even if they are maybe technically after the deadline.’
Many councils have waived administration fees for road closures, of which there were 9,500 during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012, the LGA said.
A snap poll of a dozen councils by the LGA showed they have approved more than 1,000 street parties. Extrapolated nationally, it could mean more than 16,000 Platinum Jubilee bashes.
But six weeks’ notice is usually required for a road closure, and there are concerns that many neighbourhoods have not applied far enough in advance.
Tory MPs have been urging town halls to ‘clear the way’ for more events.
Ministerial aide Richard Holden told the Telegraph: ‘The Platinum Jubilee marks a unique moment in our nation’s history, that families in cities, towns and villages across Britain are looking forward to joining together in celebrating. The idea that bolshie bureaucrats are tying people up in red tape to prevent these celebrations is contemptible.
‘Councils should clear the way to let these historic national celebrations go ahead so that friends and families can celebrate together this weekend.’
Fellow Conservative Johnny Mercer, a former Army captain, said: ‘These street parties should be allowed to go ahead. We shouldn’t let killjoys spoil the jubilee.’
Julian Knight, the Tory chairman of the culture select committee, said: ‘Councils have to be realistic about this and understand that this is a once-in-a lifetime celebration, something which will never be seen again and they need to be as flexible as possible.’
LGA chairman James Jamieson, said over the weekend: ‘Councils are pulling out all the stops to help their communities celebrate a historic day for our country.
‘Whether it be approving thousands of local road closures for free or putting on big community events, councils are doing what they do best and bringing people together in innovative ways to mark this important milestone.
‘After two tough years at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, we hope that this time will allow people to raise a toast and celebrate with their loved ones and neighbours’.
Commemorative tree planting is under way in some areas as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative, and libraries are gearing up for the Big Jubilee Read campaign celebrating books by authors from across the Commonwealth published during her seven decades as sovereign.
Councils including Wyre Forest, Gedling and Surrey Heath are hosting jubilee events such as beacon lighting, picnics and tea parties.
Hertfordshire County Council has received a record 475 street party applications while the London Borough of Waltham Forest has approved over 100 events and is putting on a mile-long street party.
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities said: ‘If you can’t or don’t want to close your road, you could plan a simpler street meet at short notice.
‘This can keep the road open and be organised on private land, such as a driveway or front garden, without any requirement to fill in council forms. Residents should speak to their council about plans in any case.’
LGA Chairman Cllr James Jamieson, added: ‘Councils are pulling out all the stops to help their communities celebrate a historic day for our country, whether it be approving thousands of local road closures for free or putting on big community events of their own.
‘A huge number of applications for street parties have been received, and councils need to balance supporting as many residents as possible while ensuring events that do take place are set up and run safely.
‘With the day fast-approaching, anyone who has yet to submit their application should contact their council as soon as possible.’